This 4-year-old boy had a unique birthday wish — all he wanted was a ride on the escalator

Kids have this beautiful innocence about them. They often ask for things without realizing just how simple or innocent they really are, and one little boy’s birthday wish is melting hearts all over the internet for exactly that reason. For his 4th birthday, he didn’t ask for toys, cake, or a party.  All he wanted was a ride on an escalator. 

The moment was captured and shared by Serena Struck (@serenamariestruck) on Instagram, and the reel has since taken the internet by storm, racking up over 38 million views and more than 4 million likes. People everywhere were touched by the pure joy and wonder on the toddler’s face as he rode the escalator, as his wonderful birthday gift,  completely thrilled by the experience.

Thousands of comments poured in, many laughing at how wildly different kids’ birthday wishes can be. One user, @mettacandrarini, jokingly said, “Lucky you, my son wanted to revive communism.” Another, @tsuki_777_, added in with, “Excellent use of free will, little dude,” applauding the toddler’s unexpected choice. Others were struck by how relatable the moment felt. @malachicormier_ _ mentioned her 13th birthday, said, “For my 13th birthday, I asked to go to a hotel just to sleep somewhere different,” while @cjkm21 started recalling, “For my 3rd birthday, all I wanted was a red shiny apple.”

It seemed to strike a nostalgic chord, too. @strairy wrote, “I just love how simple children are. I miss being a child,” while @temwa.love shared her own memory saying,  “My daughter just wanted her dad to draw her for her 4th. He drew a stickman and she literally took it everywhere, smiling all day.”

There was also praise for the parents. @pekonnie noted, “He looks so happy. You’re great parents for making his wishes come true. From their perspective, it’s a big playground.”

There’s something really special about how kids see the world. The little things we barely notice can feel huge and exciting to them. Like Isaac, a toddler who recently went viral for proudly saying he’s a “big boy now” because he learned how to whistle. In the wholesome story featured on The Daily Net, Isaac gives it his best shot, even though the sound is more of a “reverse whistle” than anything else. He insists he learned it at school, until his mom gently reminds him, “But you don’t even go to school!” It’s the kind of moment that makes you laugh and cheer him on at the same time.

That same kind of childhood wonder showed up in this video, where this 4-year-old boy asked for just one thing on his birthday, that being a ride on an escalator. As mentioned in The Daily Net, kids don’t need big, fancy things to feel happy. To them, a simple escalator ride or learning how to whistle can feel like the best thing in the world. And honestly, watching their joy reminds us adults to slow down and find magic in the little things, too.

For more videos like this, you can follow @serenamariestruck on Instagram.